Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said it wasn’t difficult to motivate his players after their double overtime loss Saturday at Virginia. The previously undefeated Seminoles dropped in the AP Top 25 rankings from No. 8 to No. 18 following the upset. Next on the schedule is a rivalry tilt against Miami in Tallahassee.

Norvell said at his weekly press conference on Monday that he talked to the players about what they have to do going forward.

"The buttons have been pressed," Norvell said.

While those words were expected of him, Norvell said his team got the picture even without his exhortation.

“Every person who had to sit on that plane on Friday night after the game, they’re feeling a certain type of way.”

Norvell reiterated what he said immediately after the loss. He again told reporters that, had just one of “any 20 or 30 plays” gone FSU’s direction against UVa, it could have changed the outcome of the game.

However, this time he added the caveat that a change in outcome wouldn’t have erased clear flaws on both sides of the ball.

“It wouldn’t have changed the overall areas of improvement and things we need to correct,” he said. “There were things that showed up that were unacceptable to how we want to play.

“I want better, expect better, and these players are going to demand better from themselves,” he continued.

Norvell said he was, of course, disappointed with the loss. However, he did credit his team for responding well to early adversity. Norvell pointed out that it was the first time his team had trailed in a game since Alabama scored on its opening drive in Week One.

That the Seminoles rallied to tie the game and send it to overtime, he said, spoke volumes. The onus is now on his team to correct the things that could have changed any of those “20-30” game-deciding plays.

“That game was there for us. And you know what, we earned that loss. It sucks to say, sucks to go through it. But now, what do you do with it?

“I want to see that response, see that confidence, and see guys go cut loose for 60 minutes,” Norvell said.

FSU and Miami kick off in Tallahassee at 7:30 p.m. on ABC this Saturday, Oct. 4.

Related FSU stories

LOSS AT THE LOS: When it mattered the most, FSU got dominated on both lines of scrimmage. That will have to be addressed immediately. READ MORE

SILVER LININGS: The end result wasn't what FSU wanted, but there were three bright spots that should give Seminoles fans optimism going forward. READ MORE